Down on the Farm - 5/23/22

High profile call-ups, a big weekend for the Orioles' Kyle Stowers, barrel rates in the PCL and FSL, prospect spotlight on the Rangers' Josh Smith, and notable performances

Good morning and welcome to new subscribers!

Player of the Weekend

Kyle Stowers (24), OF - (AAA) BAL - 9-18, 4 HR, 2 2B, 3 BB, 3 K

Although Stowers has been overshadowed by the talented bats in Baltimore’s farm system, he’s hit consistently at every stop in the minor leagues and looks to have made some important steps forward offensively this season. After Sunday’s game he’s slashing .258/.361/.565 with 9 home runs and 11 doubles in 145 plate appearances. Stowers’ has plus raw power, but his ability to use it has been limited in the past due to issues making consistent contact. Last season he struck out in over 30% of his plate appearances in AA and AAA. So far this year he’s been able to cut down on the strikeouts (23%) considerably while still walking at an above average rate (11%). Like several other talented hitters in Baltimore’s system, Stowers could make his big league debut before the summer is over.

MLB Pipeline @MLBPipeline

*mic tap*🎤 1, 2, 3 and to the stands Kyle Stowers hit it out again! @Orioles' No. 8 prospect crushed three homers and they might never land 💪 atmlb.com/3uLmKto

Notable Weekend Performances

Hitters

• Trevor Hauver (23), 2B - (A+) TEX - 7-12, 3 HR, 2 2B, 4 BB, 1 K

• Kerry Carpenter (24), RF - (AA) DET - 6-11, 2 HR, 3 2B, BB, 4 K

• Terrell Tatum (22), OF - (A+) CWS - 9-13, HR, 3 2B, 2 BB, K

• Alec Burleson (23), RF - (AAA) STL - 9-13, HR, 3 2B, K

• Owen Caissie (19), OF - (A+) CHC - 6-11, 2 HR, 2B, BB, 2 K

• Travis Swaggerty (24), CF - (AAA) PIT - 7-11, HR, 3B, K

• Jasson Dominguez (19), OF - (A) NYY - 6-11, HR, 3B, 2B, 2 BB, 3 K

• Pete Crow-Armstrong (20), CF - (A) CHC - 6-14, 2 HR, 3B, BB, 3 K

• Michael Toglia (23), 1B - (AA) COL - 2-12, 2 HR, BB, 8 K

• Korey Lee (23), C - (AAA) HOU - 0-12, 6 K

Pitchers

• Grayson Rodriguez (22), RHS - (AAA) BAL: 86 P, 23 BF, 4 H, 9 K, 1 BB

• Noah Cameron (22), LHS - (A+) KC - 72 P, 17 BF, 3 H, 12 K, 1 BB, 1 HR

• Ken Waldichuk (24), LHS - (AAA) NYY - 87 P, 21 BF, 3 H, 9 K, 2 BB, 1 HR

• Alejandro Hidalgo (19), RHS - (A) LAA - 95 P, 22 BF, 4 H, 9 K, 1 BB

• Chandler Champlain (22), RHS - (A) NYY - 88 P, 20 BF, 2 H, 9 K, 2 BB

• Connor Phillips (21), RHS - (A+) CIN - 88 P, 23 BF, 4 H, 13 K, 0 BB

• Brandon Walter (25), LHS - (AA) BOS - 79 P, 24 BF, 4 H, 11 K, 0 BB

• Garrett Hawkins (22), RHS - (A) SD - 93 P, 20 BF, 2 H, 11 K, 1 BB

• Seth Johnson (23), RHS - (A+) TB - 78 P, 18 BF, 3 H, 11 K, 0 BB, 2 HR

*BF = Batters Faced

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Prospect Spotlight

Josh H. Smith, SS - 24 y/o, L/R, 5'10" / 172 - Rangers (AAA) - #95 prospect overall

Last week: .250/.423/.250 (100 wRC+), 26 PA, 5 H, 3 BB, 6 K

Smith spent the first two and a half seasons of his professional career with the Yankees organization, who selected him out of LSU in the 2nd round of the 2019 draft. Due to injuries and the missed pandemic season, Smith has yet to play a full season of pro ball. The Rangers saw enough of Smith to ask for him in the trade that sent Joey Gallo to the Yankees¹ last season. Despite having been a pro since 2019, Smith’s 157 plate appearances this season are a new career high.

Smith has a contact-oriented approach at the plate with limited power. In his first exposure to AAA pitching this season he’s slashing .261/.369/.373 (97 wRC+) with three home runs and six stolen bases. Although Smith takes his fair share of free passes (11.5%), it’s mostly due to a passive approach and his ability to foul pitches off and eventually work walks. His above-average walk rate doesn’t appear to be due to a discerning eye or selective swing decisions, which is evidenced by his tendency to chase pitches outside the zone at a relatively high rate (30%). This approach will likely be less effective as he continues to see better pitching in AAA and the big leagues.

Smith has well below-average raw power and there isn’t any evidence that it’ll be part of his offensive game moving forward. Smith has a small frame and his short, contact-oriented swing is not conducive to generating power. This is backed up by his batted-ball data this season — Smith has only barreled 3% of balls-in-play and has a well below average 90th percentile exit velocity.

Although he’s primarily played SS over the past few seasons, the Rangers have also given him time in centerfield this year. Smith most likely profiles as a second baseman in the big leagues but could also find a role as a super utility player. His approach at the plate and lack of power limit his ceiling, but Smith’s athleticism and defensive versatility give him a chance to be an everyday player or potentially serve as a utility player off the bench in the big leagues.

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Barrel Rates in the Pacific Coast League & Florida State League

Checking in on the barrel rate leaderboard in the PCL and FSL. Jo Adell has a lot of red ink here, which makes sense given his strong results so far against PCL pitching this season. His whiff rate (10%) is quite a bit lower than his career average, but he’s still striking out a ton. He’s hitting the ball hard when he puts it in play and he’s walking more than he has in seasons past, but his strikeout issues remain (28%). Adell just turned 23 and he’s still capable of making enough of an adjustment to be a big league regular with the potential to be a star if things click. There are some other usual suspects on this list with big time raw power, Jarred Kelenic and Sam Huff to name a few. Dodgers’ prospect Michael Busch, who was only recently promoted to AAA, also finds his way into this group.